| There is no denying it: Ottawa is known | | | | there were a variety of rest areas, food |
| is one of the coldest capitals in the | | | | concessions and special entertainment or |
| world (only as far as temperatures are | | | | information areas. Well represented of |
| concerned though). But does that mean | | | | course is a famous Ottawa trademark: the |
| you stay at home during the winter and | | | | Beavertails concession booths which sell |
| mope? Absolutely not! Ottawa has turned | | | | freshly made warm pastry, sprinkled with |
| a potential liability into a key asset | | | | sugar and cinnamon. The perfect snack |
| and really shows us how to celebrate | | | | and energy source on a cold winter's |
| winter. | | | | day. |
| First there is Winterlude, Ottawa's | | | | At the Via Rail Concord Station Rest |
| winter festival, which is being held | | | | Area an exhibit shed light on Ottawa's |
| this year from February 3 to 19, 2006. | | | | railroad history. Apparently many years |
| Winterlude is apparently attended by | | | | ago, trains would arrive in downtown |
| more than 650,000 winter revellers and | | | | Ottawa right next to the Rideau Canal. |
| encompasses a myriad of events: | | | | At Fifth Avenue, young sports fans were |
| concerts, special events, culinary | | | | enjoying the Canadian Tire JUMPStart |
| demonstrations, restaurant festivals and | | | | Activity Centre where they were jumping |
| the list goes on. Skating on the Rideau | | | | through the air on a trampoline system |
| Skateway, at almost 8 km the world's | | | | and putting their hockey skills to the |
| largest icerink., was our main reason | | | | test. |
| for coming to Ottawa. Indeed we had | | | | At Pig Island a special area with |
| travelled to Ottawa about 3 years ago | | | | teepees was set up to get a taste of |
| and due to warm weather Winterlude was a | | | | Aboriginal traditions, culture and |
| total washout for us that year (I guess | | | | cuisine. In addition the area featured a |
| the appropriate term for that event | | | | loggers' exhibit, a snowshoe-making |
| would be "Waterlude"). | | | | workshop and aboriginal songs and |
| But our earlier experience didn't deter | | | | drumming. |
| us, so this year Theresa and I decided | | | | Once arrived at Dow's Lake I went on to |
| to come back and pray for better weather | | | | explore the 26th Annual Bed Race, a |
| so we would indeed be able to check out | | | | fundraising event which proved to be an |
| this phenomenal skating and | | | | absolutely hilarious experience, for a |
| entertainment venue for ourselves. | | | | good cause no less. The Bed Race is |
| Incidentally, the Rideau Canal Skateway | | | | organized by the Ottawa Kiwanis Club and |
| has been recognized by the Guiness Book | | | | the proceeds, close to $50,000 will go |
| of World Records as the world's largest | | | | towards the Children's Read-A-Thon. |
| naturally frozen ice rink. The skateway | | | | A young hockey star tests his skills at |
| is 7.8 kilometers long and takes you | | | | the Canadian Tire JumpStart Activity |
| from the Rideau Bridge all the way to | | | | Centre |
| Dow's Lake. | | | | But I had more to cover, so I started |
| We got going early just around 10 am on | | | | skating back towards the downtown and by |
| an absolutely perfect winter day, but | | | | this time the skateway had filled up |
| even at that time, the skateway was | | | | quite a bit. It seemed like young and |
| packed, and the walkthrough over the | | | | old, the whole family was out. Parents |
| frozen ice from Confederation Park to | | | | were pulling their children on little |
| the skateway entrance on the other side | | | | sleds, or even pushing them in |
| of the river was chock full with people | | | | all-terrain baby carriages. Everybody |
| in a long lineup. | | | | was having a ton of fun. |
| We laced up our skates and put our boots | | | | On the way back one person struck my |
| in our backbacks which would give us the | | | | attention: a young lady on red skates |
| flexibility to get off the ice at any | | | | with red gloves and a red scarf was |
| time and continue our explorations on | | | | skating down the canal, juggling, |
| foot. Or if we got too tired, we could | | | | apparently just having a ball of a time. |
| even hop on the "Sno-Bus" which connects | | | | I approached her to find out a bit about |
| Dow's Lake with Confederation Park | | | | her. She introduced herself as Sylvie, |
| during the entire Winterlude Festival | | | | and shared with me that she is part of a |
| for the low fee of $2.50 (more | | | | juggling family and that juggling is in |
| information on the OC Transpo site) . | | | | her blood. She said that juggling is her |
| But, apparently we didn't need a | | | | life, and although she doesn't drive the |
| Sno-Bus, we skated our way down on this | | | | fanciest car, she is happy because she |
| wonderful natural ice surface all the | | | | gets to do what she loves. |
| way to the lake and didn't even need to | | | | After all this skating I got really |
| rest. On this gorgeous day with crystal | | | | hungry, so I took off my skates and |
| blue skies and perfect winter weather | | | | simply headed up to the Rideau Centre, |
| and amazingly no winds, skating on the | | | | one of Ottawa's biggest shopping |
| Rideau was a phenomenal experience. We | | | | centres. It is located right next to the |
| could indeed not have picked a better | | | | Canal and was positively packed on this |
| day to explore the Rideau Canal on | | | | day. The Rideau Centre offered a welcome |
| skates. | | | | opportunity to warm up and catch a nice |
| At different intervals along the way | | | | lunch in its food court. |